Kai Alexis Smith
University of Notre Dame
Librarian-in-Residence
A little about Kai’s job:
Kai Alexis Smith is the Librarian-in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame and is an aspiring research librarian interested in the arts and humanities. The Librarian-In-Residence Program is intended to recruit a recent library school graduate who can contribute effectively to the diversity of the profession and the university while developing career interests in various aspects of academic librarianship. The residency program is 2 year appointment.
Currently, Kai is spending the next year in the Architecture Library located in Bond Hall. She will not only provide research support for architecture faculty and students, but also teach multimedia literacy classes in the Writing and Rhetoric courses and library consultations in Africana Studies and assist in class presentations of artists books and rare books from the Latin American collection. Kai also serves as the LINk Librarian to Alumni Hall.
At the end of her residency, she hopes to secure a permanent position as an art and/or architecture librarian in an academic institution.
What are some things you like about your job or about working in libraries in general?
I like that everyday is different and I get to work with awesome people. This includes librarians, staff, faculty, and students.
What’s a project or committee you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?
There are so many. A project I just finished up was learning about and exploring materials libraries. The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)’s Visual Resources Librarian Mark Pompelia describes what this collection is best in the white paper Materials Collection Creation and Administration: A New Role for Libraries, “A materials collection is a body of physical items and samples acquired across various industries to be utilized as objects for inspiration and in project specification by architects, designers, artists, and researchers in the practice of those and allied fields.”
I conducted a survey of Art Library Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)’s Materials Special Interest Group, reviewed literature published on the topic, and incorporated the results into a report where I made recommendations for the Visual Arts Librarian as she is interested in acquiring or building a collection to support the Art and Design department’s teaching and student research at the University of Notre Dame.
Regarding committees, I am the chair of the Art Library Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)’s Diversity Committee (DivCom). We are doing great things to get diversity embedded into the organization and are collaborating with several other committees within the organization. Some of these collaborations have resulted in webinars. We are working hard to get language on diversity and inclusion into the next iteration of the strategic plan and are working to update documentation. In addition, we are planning a Diversity Forum for the annual conference.
Most recently, I was appointed to the Keynote Speakers committee for the Academic College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Baltimore Conference in 2017. I look forward to working with committee members on attracting an incredible line up like the one in Portland.
What got you interested in libraries?
I was in my previous career in corporate lifestyle and entertainment magazines and websites as a writer and research editor. Honestly, it wasn’t my calling and I started taking classes at the local college to get the necessary coursework to apply for PhD in an Art History programs. A professor of mine encouraged me to explore art librarianship as a path. She said that I could always pursue a PhD. When I spoke with librarians at art museum libraries, academic art libraries, and public art libraries they all loved what they did. That is when I decided to change course and pursue the art librarianship path and I have not looked back since.
What is one of your favorite things about NMRT?
I love that everyone is so welcoming. As a newbie to the profession, it is comforting to know that I am not alone and that there are other people that I can chat with going through the same things issues and challenges.
I am also so appreciative of NMRT and the opportunities to learn and meet people. I was the 2015 Shirley Olofson award recipient to attend ALA Annual in San Francisco. There I was not only able to serve on committees but also continue to build my network which is crucial for new librarians.
Do you have any advice for other new librarians?
I hope other new members keep an eye out and take advantage of opportunities to attend events and apply for awards. As much face-to-face time you get with people as a new librarian in the profession the better. Take advantage of the NMRT local socials. There are some incredible people in NMRT and the profession. Get to know them.